Join us in the Kunen Theatre as violinist Kento Hong presents a spectacular performance and works with Levine students in a special master class.

About Kento Hong

Kento Hong, a Japanese-Taiwanese American violinist, was born in New York and began his violin studies at age 6 in California under Aimee Kreston. At age 7, he made his orchestral debut in Los Angeles and has been a student of the Juilliard Pre-College Division since age 10. He continues to study with Dr. Ann Setzer at the Juilliard School.

Kento is a Grand 4th Prize laureate of the 2021 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition, a finalist and audience prize laureate of the 2022 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Violin Competition, and a 3rd Prize winner of the 2024 Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition. He has also received first prizes at the Chicago International Competition, the Camarata Artists International Competition, and the Chappaqua Orchestra Concerto Competition.

In late 2024, Kento was awarded the $50,000 Gurrena Fellowship career grant from the Meadowmount School of Music. He is a 2025 National YoungArts Finalist with Distinction, a featured guest artist on NPR’s From the Top, and a Back to Bach Soloist mentor. He is also the 2024–25 winner of the Juilliard Pre-College Concerto Competition and has been frequently selected as concertmaster of the Juilliard Pre-College orchestra, symphony, and chamber ensembles.

Kento has performed at major venues, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Zipper Hall, the New World Center, and Kronberg Academy. He has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Robert McDuffie, Maxim Vengerov, and the Oxford Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. Kento was an active artist of the Kronberg Academy Festival and has participated in masterclasses with Anne Akiko Meyers, Paul Kantor, Miriam Fried, Donald Weilerstein, Almita & Roland Vamos, Daniel Phillips, James Ehnes, Joseph Lin, David Kim, Annie Fullard, Kikuei Ikeda, Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Midori, Stella Chen, and Elmar Oliveira.

Alongside his violin studies, Kento is an avid researcher and public communicator. On From the Top, he spoke about the interdisciplinary connection between music and science through his osteoarthritis research at Columbia Engineering. In 2024, as a U.S. national finalist, he was awarded Grand 2nd Prize in the Biomedical Engineering category at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), as well as other special awards. He was later recognized as one of Regeneron’s Top 300 Young Scientists in the Nation for 2025.

Kento currently studies at Columbia–Juilliard & Columbia Engineering.

• • January 23
  • 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST

  Suliman Tekalli: Violin & Viola Master Class

  Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Suliman Tekalli visits Levine for a violin and viola master class featuring students of our Washington […]

  
• • January 24
  • 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

  Guitar Master Class: Eden Stell Guitar Duo

  The Eden Stell Guitar Duo visits Levine for a master class and workshop.

  
• • February 1
  • 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM EST

  Orchestra Day Concert

  Levine string orchestras from THEARC, Virginia, and Silver Spring come together for an exciting afternoon of music. Students participating in […]

  

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Suliman Tekalli visits Levine for a violin and viola master class featuring students of our Washington Musical Pathways Initiative (WMPI). Join us to see Suliman work with our exceptional students ahead of his Levine Presents performance alongside his sister, Jamila Tekalli Hanner.

About Suliman Tekalli

A violin virtuoso of extraordinary versatility and artistry, American violinist Suliman Tekalli has captivated audiences worldwide as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. A prizewinner at numerous international competitions, most notably as top prizewinner at the 2015 Seoul International Music Competition, Tekalli has performed as a soloist with orchestras across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, appearing at esteemed venues such as Wigmore Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Seoul Arts Center. His performances have been broadcast on NPR, CBC Radio 3 in Canada, and KBS TV in Korea.

As an accomplished chamber musician, he has appeared at renowned festivals including Music@Menlo, Yellow Barn, and the Banff Centre. His collaborations include performances with Gil Shaham, Cho-Liang Lin, Donald Weilerstein, Paul Watkins, Wu Han, and David Shifrin. He has also led as concertmaster for notable ensembles such as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, New York Classical Players, Sphinx Virtuosi, and the International Sejong Soloists. He was a member of the Grammy-nominated Catalyst Quartet, and he regularly tours the continents with his internationally acclaimed and genre-defying string quintet, Sybarite5, as well as with his sibling and pianist, Jamila Tekalli, as the Tekalli Duo.
Beyond performance, Tekalli is dedicated to the evolution of classical music through transcription, orchestration, and original composition. A number of his arrangements have been featured in the album Art of Transcription on the MSR Classics label. His commitment to contemporary music has led to collaborations with contemporary composers such as Paul Wiancko, Andrea Casarrubios, Curtis Stewart, Michael Brown, and Reena Esmail, among others.

A passionate educator, he has given masterclasses across the U.S. and South America and has served as a fellow of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect. He has also served as a faculty member over multiple summers at the Sphinx Performance Academy at the Juilliard School and at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Tekalli began his violin studies with Russian violinist Lev Gurevich. He went on to study at the Juilliard School, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Yale School of Music, training under esteemed mentors including Hyo Kang, Joel Smirnoff, Sergiu Schwartz, and Ayako Yonetani.

As a CME Artist, Suliman has appeared as a soloist performing with the Vienna International Orchestra in Austria as well as in chamber music concerts in Vienna and Prague. Recent projects have included recordings on the recently released CD CME Presents Art of Transcription, which features his own violin and piano transcriptions as well as those for mixed instrumentation. He currently performs on a 2016 Joseph Curtin and resides in New York City.

• • January 11
  • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST

  Violin Performance and Master Class: Kento Hong

  Join us in the Kunen Theatre as violinist Kento Hong presents a spectacular performance and works with Levine students in […]

  
• • January 24
  • 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

  Guitar Master Class: Eden Stell Guitar Duo

  The Eden Stell Guitar Duo visits Levine for a master class and workshop.

  
• • February 1
  • 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM EST

  Orchestra Day Concert

  Levine string orchestras from THEARC, Virginia, and Silver Spring come together for an exciting afternoon of music. Students participating in […]

  

Join us for a Strings Department Recital showcasing the hard work and musical growth of our students in the strings department. From beginner to advanced levels, performers will share a beautiful range of repertoire that highlights their developing artistry and dedication.

Join us for a student recital featuring performances that showcase our students’ dedication and musical growth. Family, friends, and community members are welcome to celebrate their achievements.

Recitals allow students of all ages and abilities to learn and hone their performance skills and gain confidence performing in front of an audience. Interested in performing in a campus recital? Contact your teacher to sign up.

Recitals will take place at 1:30 and 3:00 PM.

• • February 8
  • 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

  Ruth P. Cogen Concerto Competition

  Finalists compete in our annual concerto competition.

  
• • March 8
  • 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

  Charles and Ruth Williams Voice Competition

  Students compete in our annual voice competition.

  
• • March 22
  • 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

  Irena Orlov Adult Piano Competition

  Students compete in our adult piano competition.

  

Join us for a student recital featuring performances that showcase our students’ dedication and musical growth. Family, friends, and community members are welcome to celebrate their achievements.

Recitals allow students of all ages and abilities to learn and hone their performance skills and gain confidence performing in front of an audience. Interested in performing in a campus recital? Contact your teacher to sign up.

Recitals will take place at 1:00 and 2:30 PM.

• • December 13
  • 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST

  Campus Recital

  Join us for a student recital featuring performances that showcase our students’ dedication and musical growth.

  
• • February 8
  • 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

  Ruth P. Cogen Concerto Competition

  Finalists compete in our annual concerto competition.

  
• • March 8
  • 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

  Charles and Ruth Williams Voice Competition

  Students compete in our annual voice competition.

  

Join us for a student recital featuring performances that showcase our students’ dedication and musical growth. Family, friends, and community members are welcome to celebrate their achievements.

Recitals allow students of all ages and abilities to learn and hone their performance skills and gain confidence performing in front of an audience. Interested in performing in a campus recital? Contact your teacher to sign up.

Recitals will take place at 12:00 and 1:30 PM.

• • December 13
  • 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST

  Campus Recital

  Join us for a student recital featuring performances that showcase our students’ dedication and musical growth.

  
• • February 8
  • 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

  Ruth P. Cogen Concerto Competition

  Finalists compete in our annual concerto competition.

  
• • March 8
  • 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

  Charles and Ruth Williams Voice Competition

  Students compete in our annual voice competition.

  

Join us for a recital featuring performances that showcase our adult students’ dedication and musical growth. Family, friends, and community members are welcome to celebrate their achievements.

Recitals allow students of all ages and abilities to learn and hone their performance skills and gain confidence performing in front of an audience.

Interested in performing in an adult recital? Click here to sign up.

• • December 13
  • 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST

  Campus Recital

  Join us for a student recital featuring performances that showcase our students’ dedication and musical growth.

  
• • February 8
  • 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

  Ruth P. Cogen Concerto Competition

  Finalists compete in our annual concerto competition.

  
• • March 8
  • 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

  Charles and Ruth Williams Voice Competition

  Students compete in our annual voice competition.

  

Enjoy a holiday concert with Capital City Voices! Led by Alison Crockett, Capital City Voices is an established, premier jazz choir that has been delighting DC-area audiences for years. Capital City Voices at Levine stays in the tradition of great vocal jazz groups, such as Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, but with a unique style. Mix a bit of R&B and jazz with a touch of gospel, and you have a recipe for a rewarding (and fun!) vocal experience.

Capital City Voices at Levine welcomes most levels of singers, from beginners to advanced vocalists, semi-professionals, and music teachers. Musical arrangements reflect classic American and Brazilian jazz styles, and at each session, singers learn something new about music, jazz, and their own voices.

Violinist Oliver Neubauer visits Levine for a performance, master class, and Q&A as part of Levine’s ongoing partnership with Young Concert Artists.

About Oliver Neubauer

Praised for his uniquely beautiful playing and mature artistry, violinist Oliver Neubauer is quickly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young artists of his time. Winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and an inaugural YCA Jacobs Fellow, he has also been selected as a member of the newest class of laureates for the Fondation Gautier Capuçon.
Recent highlights include recital debuts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Merkin Hall in New York City, concerto debuts with the Delaware Symphony and Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, and appearances with Jupiter Chamber Players, the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, Friends of Chamber Music in Missouri, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Hayden’s Ferry Chamber Music Series in Arizona, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
Upcoming engagements include his debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in fall 2025 as the recipient of the 2024 Gershen Cohen Award from the Juilliard School. He will also appear in recital at the Cold Spring Harbor Library and the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., and as soloist with the Kennett Symphony and Brevard Philharmonic.
Past seasons have featured appearances at Music@Menlo, Verbier Festival Academy, Bravo! Vail, Chamber Music Northwest, Music in the Vineyards, Summerfest La Jolla, Music from Angel Fire, Lake Champlain Music Festival, and Art in Avila in Curaçao. He has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Symphony Space, Alice Tully Hall, and David Geffen Hall, and collaborated with artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Carter Brey, Ani Kavafian, Shai Wosner, Jason Vieaux, the Ulysses Quartet, and the Dover Quartet.
A graduate of the Juilliard School, where he studied as a Kovner Fellow, Oliver now studies with Mihaela Martin at the Kronberg Academy in Germany. He performs on the c.1725 “Milstein” Guarneri Del Gesù violin, generously on loan from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation and Rare Violins in Consortium.

• • January 11
  • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST

  Violin Performance and Master Class: Kento Hong

  Join us in the Kunen Theatre as violinist Kento Hong presents a spectacular performance and works with Levine students in […]

  
• • January 23
  • 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST

  Suliman Tekalli: Violin & Viola Master Class

  Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Suliman Tekalli visits Levine for a violin and viola master class featuring students of our Washington […]

  
• • February 1
  • 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM EST

  Orchestra Day Concert

  Levine string orchestras from THEARC, Virginia, and Silver Spring come together for an exciting afternoon of music. Students participating in […]

  

Pianist Ying Li visits Levine for a performance, master class, and Q&A as part of Levine’s ongoing partnership with Young Concert Artists.

About Ying Li

Chinese pianist Ying Li is a winner of the 2021 YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, as well as recipient of The Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival Prize and the Tri-I Noon Recitals Prize. She has also received top awards at the Antonio Mormone International Prize, Sarasota Artist Series Piano Competition, International Liszt Piano Competition for Young Pianists, and was a finalist at Concours musical international de Montréal.

She has performed with leading orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, L’Accademia Orchestra del La Scala, Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland Pfalz, and the Stuttgart Philharmonic, with conductors Lina Gonzalez-Granados, Xian Zhang, Dan Ettinger, Eric Jacobsen, Jonathon Heyward, Dame Jane Glover, and Leslie Suganandarajah.

Her recent highlights include concerto appearances with the Minnesota Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Eugene Symphony, Aiken Symphony, and the Salisbury Symphony, along with festival performances as a Bravo! Vail Piano Fellow, her debut at La Jolla SummerFest, and a return to the Nantucket Musical Arts Society.

This season she will appear with the Chattanooga Symphony, Carolina Philharmonic, Kiel Philharmonic at Sala Verdi in Milan, Chamber Orchestra Aquila, Anchorage Symphony, Loudoun Symphony, and the Maryland Symphony. Recital engagements include the Milano Torino Festival Internazionale della Musica, Laguna Beach, The 222 in Healdsburg, and Hayden’s Ferry Chamber Music. She will also be featured on the YCA Season Finale at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in May 2026.

A dedicated chamber musician, Ying has performed at the Verbier Festival Academy, Ravinia’s Steans Institute, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival.
After earning her Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute in 2019, Ying completed both her Master of Music and Artist Diploma at The Juilliard School under the guidance of Robert McDonald.

Ying Li’s place on the YCA roster in 2025-2026 is generously sponsored by the Alan and Li Colberg Family Foundation.

• • January 11
  • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST

  Violin Performance and Master Class: Kento Hong

  Join us in the Kunen Theatre as violinist Kento Hong presents a spectacular performance and works with Levine students in […]

  
• • January 23
  • 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST

  Suliman Tekalli: Violin & Viola Master Class

  Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Suliman Tekalli visits Levine for a violin and viola master class featuring students of our Washington […]

  
• • January 24
  • 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST

  Guitar Master Class: Eden Stell Guitar Duo

  The Eden Stell Guitar Duo visits Levine for a master class and workshop.